An offseason with as much roster turnover as the Philadelphia Union’s is bound to contain plenty of waiting — for players to jell, for relationships to form.

But another waiting game is under way, and the focus is on the complexion of the defense.

While John Hackworth and his staff are satisfied with the moves the club has made in fortifying the roster and the progress those additions have made assimilating to the existing nucleus, a looming question remains in the composition of defense. That’s where Hackworth and company are taking a measured and complex stance.

Hackworth said Thursday via conference call from the team’s training base in Delton, Fla., that Union is happy with the defensive personnel they’ve assembled. But they are still on the lookout for the right reinforcements.

Advertisement

Most of Hackworth’s statements involved a degree of hedging. The existing group is strong … but could use an extra body. The club is being aggressive on the market … but “picky” in who fits its needs, to use Hackworth’s words.

The reasoning is steeped in the presence of a defensive corps that is perhaps strong enough to do the job but not so weak as to necessitate a major overhaul. Given the Union’s offseason splurge on midfielders Maurice Edu, Cristian Maidana and Vincent Nogueira, there’s also less cash to throw at the issue, necessitating frugality.

But the process is ongoing, and a little behind schedule.

“Our timeline was about three or four weeks ago,” Hackworth said. “I say that jokingly, but we have been looking everywhere trying to find the right player for our team. This is one of those things, it never stops in this business where you have to vet so many players to try to find the right one.”

The cost of acquiring the rights to Edu was defender and vice-captain Jeff Parke, who was shipped out to D.C. United before the MLS SuperDraft. That left the team with just two recognized center backs — Amobi Okugo and Ethan White, a 23-year-old acquired in the Parke deal.

Hackworth reiterated several times that he’s pleased with the defenders in camp, including rookie third-round pick Richie Marquez, whom he called “one of the biggest surprises in camp.” Not among the group, though, are second-round picks Kevin Cope, a center back, and left back Robbie Derschang, neither of whom is still with the team. And Hackworth’s rhetoric has made it clear that White isn’t yet ready for a full-time starting role.

The club has been linked with veteran English center back Zat Knight, which Hackworth confirmed last week, but those talks have apparently not progressed.

For now, Hackworth believes that he has adequate coverage. In Wednesday’s friendly, a 1-1 draw with future MLS side Orlando City, he deployed a back four with Okugo and regular right back Sheanon Williams in the center, using Ray Gaddis on his natural right side and Fabinho on the left. That approach, though, leaves the Union thin, not to mention exposing a lack of height.

With that kind of versatility and familiarity in the system, the Union can target a specialist (read: a tall guy) and bide their time for an opportunity to present itself.

“You look at that, and with Zac (MacMath) in goal, that alone has four of those five guys that have been together for three of the last four years, which is a pretty good starting point,” Hackworth said. “At the same time, you don’t want to go into the game with two center backs that are 5-10 each and think that you’re going to be able to play some of the teams in our league that have 6-2, 6-3 target forwards. That’s just unrealistic. And then you have guys that we’ve been playing there, like a Marquez, or Aaron Wheeler has done really well there this preseason.

“We have guys that have some of those physical attributes and qualities that would match up well in those situations. That’s part of the reason we’re being patient, is because we’re not really in the position where we’re desperate for it.”